Means for handling powdered solids



March 3, 1953 w. J. Dl-:GNEN ETAL 2,630,352

MEANS FOR HANDLING POWDERED SOLIDS Filed Jan. 29, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l Z1 u .F'IG.I. F762.

March 3, 1953 w. J. DEGNEN ET AL 2,630,352

MEANS FOR HANDLING PowDERED soLIns Filed Jan. 29, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG .4.

af 8f E/vED/or JQHNSUM l .5. i'mbmr .ATTORNEYS March 3, 1953 w. J. DEGNEN ETAL MEANS FOR HANDLING PowDERED soLIns 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 29,` 1947 NN E0 5 www Wmo MN R mJr Nm 7 T www .E mm. l W am March 3, 1953 W. J. DEGNEN ETAL MEANS FOR HANDLING POWDERED SOLIDS Filed Jan. 29, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 3, 1.953

UNI TED STATES PATENT UFFICE ,l

MEANS FOR .HANDLING PQWDERED `SGLIIBS William J. Degnen, Westfield, and William Beneadict Johnson, Far Hills, N. '.I., assignors jto The 1M. Kellogg Company, Jersey City, El., :a

:corporation of Delaware Application .Ianualy29, 1947, Serial No. 724,956

`This invention relates in general to a ymean-s for handling finely divided solids, uand particularly to a means `for transferring finely divided solid lmaterial in Afluidized condition from a chamber through a carrier line in communication therewith.

'More particularly, the invention is concerned with an improved injector means 'whereby a car- 1f-ier llui-d *stream from an external source may be passed through A'the -wall of a Achamber containing a vtluidized 'fbed `of line'l-y Vdivided -solid ma- Jtori-afl and injected in an axial direction into the lower end of an upwardly extending carrier line in open communication with said fluidized bed for conveyance with the .stream cf uidized Imamaterials in a fluidized state, as for example,

powdered catalyst transfer in a duid catalyst cracking system in :the petroleum rening arti More speeiiically, Vinjecter 'valves `of 'the type herein` disclosed `may 'be used 4to advantage 4-for effecting the transfer Aoi? :regenerated catalyst from vthe dense 'bed :of :the gregenerator of a -lluid catalyst cracking :system :directly to lthe :reactor through a carrierjline kcomnmrf-ication with the .dense bed. The carrier `tluicl in such application may -.be the hydrocarbon feed lstream. Similarly, 'the valve may 'be employed for transferring spent catalyst to :the regenerater, inwln'ch .casethe carrier iuid `would :preferably he an air stream.

It is the present practice in fluid catalystrcracking systems to ipass fthe udizced .catalyst `from .one vessel to another, :or tirombne chamber to .ano-ther, 'by gmeans of .a static Ipressure 'head established in a vertical standpipe -n open communication with the vessel at the bottom -of the dense bed of `ilu-idined catalyst. `The standpipe through which the catalyst :is withdrawn ,is `of sufficient length so that the `'static pressure at :its base is SuIlc-ient to ipa-ss "the powdered catalyst withdrawn from the rst vessel or ehamber upwardly through a carrier line ,communicating with :the lov/er end foi the fstandpipe into tthe second vessel or .contact chamber. In the carrier .line `.the Afluid catalyst stream lreceives an `injectun nf carrier fluid, such as air `or hydrocarbon vapors, 'which serves ftorcreate a less dense sus.-

7 Claims. (Cl. 3D2-i529 pension of the catalyst particles within the carrier line. ,In the case of catalyst being Withdrawn from 'the regenerator for passage to 'the reactor, the catalyst ,stream entering the carrier line is contacted with 4a preheated hydrocarbon stream. The latter, if liquid, is immediately Ilash vaporized by contact with the hot regenerated catalyst particles and forms Within .the carrier 'line a less dense stream comprising a mixture of catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors.

It 'has been found that'by incorporating thereactor and the regenerator of a. fluid :catalystsystem within a single vessel as separate zones or chamberssuperimposed one above the other, material savings in laborand equipment may be vefected.

A principal advantage in supermposing .the reactor immediately above the regenerator, or vice versa, is that it permits `the use of straight lines of communication between the contact zones `for circulating the fluidized catalytic material back and f orth between the zones. The consequent elimination Aby such arrangement of all bends or turns in the transferlines between the `zones effects a material reduction of wear 4within "the transfer lines caused by the erosive Vaction of the catalyst particles. Since erosion is `,most serious at the points of 'sharp curvature lin the fluid passage, or at `points 'Where the direction of Iflow is abruptly changed, and atpoints where the :nonaXial injection .of a fluid carrier or aeration stream into 'the catalyst carrier 'line may cause impingement of the catalyst particles yagainstthe carrier 'line wall opposite Athe `point of injection, it is especially desirable to have the catalyst 'partcles `entering "the transfer line and `the fluid stream linjected therein travel 'in a direction parallel-'tothe axis ofthe carrierline.

Itis a 'principal oblec't of this inventionytherafore, to provide a simple, `eifective 'means v4for transferring or discharging `iflu'idized powdered material from a dense iluidized bed within a chamber through a carrier line extending outwardly of the chamber from a 4point Within the dense fluidized bed vby the injection of Huid 'into the carrier line.

Another object vis to provide an injector valve for the end of a carrier line extending into a rdense 3bed of lluidized `powder `within a chamber adapted to Lsimultaneously control the `flow of powdered material from the dense powder bed into the carrier line and provide a fluid passage yin open communication with the carrierline from a 'point Voutside the chamber through which a fluid stream may 'be passed eleetive to -ca-use a flow of the powdered material from the zone immediately adjacent the valve, when in its open position, into the carrier line for conveyance through the latter.

A further object is to provide an externally controllable hollow stern injector valve extending within a chamber having a closure member adapted to control the flow of fluidized powdered material within the chamber into the end of a carrier line extending therein while continu-ously providing open communication for a fluid stream from a point outside the chamber to a point within the carrier line.

These and other obi'ects are effected by our invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial section view in elevation showing the injector valve and the external con- Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the in jector valve shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. Bris a sectional side View of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing modification of the valve of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is aside YView of the valve control mechanism of Fig. 5; Y

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a modicationof the external control apparatus for operating the valve; and

Fig. 9 is a side view of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a tower or vessel comprising a reaction zone I I superimposed upon a regeneration zone I2, the zones being separated by the partition I3.W The reaction zone II is provided with a vertical partition I4 which forms with the vessel wall -a stripping well I 5 at one side of the reactor. vThe catalyst powder within the reactor maintained in a fluidized condition in phase L separation, providing a dense phase i6 and a dispersed phase I'I. The powdered catalyst is passed simultaneously with the hydrocarbon vapors into the reaction zone at the bottom through a vertical carrier line I8, in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described. The catalyst and thehydrocarbon vapors in intimate admixture pass upwardly through a horizontal grid I9 extending across the bottom of the reaction zone.

The products of reaction, together Vwith entrained catalyst fines, are discharged from the reaction zone through an outlet 2! at the top of the reactor. Separating means,-such as a cyclone separator 22, is provided withn the dispersed phase Il adjacent the outlet 2l to separate the entrained catalyst from the discharging hydrocarbon eiiluentand to deposit the recovered material in the stripping well I5 bymeans of standpipe 23. The level of the interface or zone of separation between the dense phase and the dispersed phase of the fluidized catalyst mass is maintained above the upper horzontal edge of partition member Ie, so that catalyst from the dense phase may continuously pass over the edge of the partitionand be deposited in the well I5.

An inlet nozzle 2l! is provided at the base of the Well -I connectable with a source not shown, for injecting steam or any other suitable stripping medium into the descending column of fluidized catalyst within the stripping zone. The stripping medium and the stripped hydrocarbon vapors pass upwardly from the stripping zone l5 into the dispersed phase ll of the reaction zone and are discharged with the reaction products through outlet 2l and passed to a conventional recover-y or fractionat-ing system, not shown. f

At the base of well I5 a straight vertical standpipe 25 is provided to convey the powdered catalyst stream from the stripping zone downwardly to aY point adjacent the bottom of the regeneration zone l2. A valve 26, which may be either ofthe conventional plug type or the injector type, hereinafter. to be described, regulates the iow of catalyst from the base of the standpipe 25 into the regeneration zone. The injector type valve of the present invention may be used to advantage in supplying aerating gas to prevent plugging of the standpipe during valve shut-ofi` periods. In the regeneration zone' I2 the catalyst is maintained in phase separation above a grid member Z1 extending across the bottom' of the regenerator. The catalyst is divided into a dense phase 28 and a dispersed phase 29. Regenerating fluid, such as air or oxygen, is continuously introduced into the regenerationrzone l2 in the space below the grid 2l through conduit 3l, from which space it is uniformly distributed to the dense bed of catalyst through the grid. The combustion products formed by the regeneration of the spent-catalyst pass upwardly Athrough the dispersed phase 29 and are discharged through outlet 32Y in the top ofthe regenerator. Separating means, such as a cyclone separator 33is placed within the dispersed phase to separate -the entrained catalyst from the regenerationvapors or gases. The recovered catalyst is returned to the dense phase bed ofthe regenerator zone through standpipe 34, while the gaseous products of regeneration are discharged through the outlet 32. i

A short upright tubular member 35 is attached along its lower edge to the bottom end closure E5 of the reactor, extending from the inner wall upwardly in axial alignment with carrier line I8 to a point above the grid 21, and preferably to a point above thelower end of standpipe 25'. The lower end of carrier line i8 extends a substantial distance into the well 3l formed by the member 35. A retractable injector valve, 'gener'- ally-indicated by the numeral38,'forms a closure for the end of carrier line I8 to control the' flow of catalyst from thewell 3i into the line. The valve 38 has a hollow stem in open communication through the closure member with the carrier line, and connectable externally of the vessel IO with a hydrocarbon source, as indicated by the arrow.

For a clearer understanding oi the valve construction, reference is made to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, wherein the injector valve 38 is shown supported on a cover plate 39V attached as by bolts d'0 to a iianged connector 4I attached to the bottom 'closure 33 of the regenerator concentrically with respect to the carrier line AIt, so as to provide a means of access to the well 3l through which the entire injector valve may be removed as a unit with the cover plate 39 for the purposes of inspection, repair, or replacement. The valve comprises a plug-type head G2 of substantially conical shape adapted to seat against a complementary tapered collar i3 removably attached to the lower end of carrier line I8. Head yi2-'is concave on the underside 7 relieving the strain on the valve mechanism and the carrier line.

It is contemplated that when operating conditions are such as to preclude the possibility of excessive expansion, or where extensive expansion may take place but provision is made for relieving the strain on the carrier line andthe valve stem in a diiierent manner, hydraulic cylinder 12 may be eliminated and a rigid, non-expansive link member substituted.

A modication of the valve 38 is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The external control mechanism is substantially identical with the control mechanism shown in Figs, 2, 3 and 4, with the exception of the link members pivotally attached to the valve stem.

Valve head 9| is shaped at its forward end identically with valve head 42 of Fig. 2, being provided with an opening 41 to receive removable hollow tip 48. The under or back side of valve head 9|, instead of being concave or cup-shaped, is provided with an axial tubular passage 92 connecting with the inner end or opening 41 and having a diameter substantially greater than that of opening 41.

A hollow valve-stem 93 extends through the passage 92 and is threaded at its upper end into the inner end of the opening 41. A second tubular member 94 encircles the valve-stem 93 to form a concentric, spaced jacket, and is threaded at its upper end into the end of passage 92. The inner diameter of tubular member 94 is equal to the diameter of passage d2 so that a continuous annular space is provided about the valve-stem 93 for the greater portion of its length.

Both the valve stem 93 and the ljacket 94 extend through the cover plate 39, a packed joint 95 of conventional design being provided between the jacket and the cover plate through which the jacket may move freely in a longitudinal path.

A valve guide sleeve 96, havinga ange 91 at its lower end, is attached to the inside of the cover plate 39, as by screws 98, shown in Fig. 6, and surrounds the tubular jacket member 94 for a portion of its length to provide an annular space 9e about the jacket member 94. A constricted portion |92 is provided at the upper end of valveguide sleeve 96 to form a guide for the jacketed valve-stem. Packed gland 95 is provided with a conventional aeration inlet lill connected to a source of aeration fluid such as steam or air, not shown. The aerating iiuid introduced through inlet |01 discharges into the annular space 99 and passes upwardly through the nar-row space between the member 94 and the constricted portion |953 of guide sleeve S6 to keep the space free of catalyst particles, which if deposited between the members 94 and Ici! or between the member 94 and the gland 95 would cause excessive wear.

The supply of aerating medium introduced through connection Il into space 99 for discharge into the well 31 may be in excess of the amount required to keep the moving parts free of contact with the catalyst at the points most subject to erosion. Any execces aeration uid would merely serve to further strip and aerate the powdered catalyst within the well 31. The main supply of fluid for stripping and aeration, however, may be introduced to the well 31 through inlet nozzle |92.

The lower end of tubular jacket member 94 is provided with a nange member |03 having upwardly extending lug members |04 disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the tubular member 94. The tubular valve-stem 93 extends downwardly below the end of tubular jacket member 94. A fluid-tight connection is provided between the tubes 93 land 94 by means of a packed joint |95, of convention-al design. The lower end of tubular member 93 is provided with one or more lateral flanged connecters |06 connectable, as by means of llexible conduits not shown, to a source of hydrocarbon oil or vapors. An additional connecter |1 is provided at the end of the hollow valve-stem 93 through which additional hydrocarbons or other fluid may be injected, or through which the hollow valve-stem S3 may be cleaned or drained.

Lug members |94 are drilled and tapped to receive pivot screws 98 upon which are mounted link members |89 disposed on opposite sides of the valve stem, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. Link members |99 are similar to link members 53 of Figs. 2, 3 and 4 with the exception of a slight offsetting at one end -because of the wider spacing at the center necessitated by the increased thickness of the valve-stem. Yoke member 5E is replaced by a wider yoke H0 pivotally connected to the members |99 by the pivot 68.

A modication of the external valve control mechanism is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The lower end of hollow valve-stem 45, instead of terminating in a connecter 59 as shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a closure block having a side connecter I2 communicating through the block with the hollow stem 45.

Spaced from the lower end of the valve-stem 45, land fixed with respect to the vessel I0, is a hydraulic cylinder |'3, of conventional design, having its piston rod ||4 extending upwardly in axial alignment with the valve-stem 45. An adjustable linkage, generally indicated at H5, is provided between valve-stem 45 and piston rod I4. Although any of the well-known expedients for providing a connection of adjustable length between the valve-stem and the piston rod may be used, a preferred form is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. A double linkage in the form of adjustable parallelograms is provided between the valve-stem 45 and the piston rod I4 comprising link members ||S mounted scissor-like on pivot pins |1 set in the sides of block and similar link members ||8 mounted on opposite ends of a pivot pin ||9 extending through a yoke member |20 attached to the end of piston rod I4. Cross members |2 having pivot pins |22 at each end, pivotally support the scissor-like members |6 at their open ends to form adjustable parallelogram linkages on either side of members and |29. A hand-'operated feed screw |23, having la handwheel |24 at the outer end, has oppositely threaded portions |25 and |25, each of which is threaded through one of the cross members |2|. Rotation of the feed screw causes the cross members [2l to move toward or away from each other, thus changing the distance between members and. ||9. If it is desir-ed to operate the injector valve solely by hand, the fluid under pressure is admitted to hydraulic cylinder H3 through inlet |21 so as to maintain the piston rod H4 of hydraulic cylinder |i3 in its outermost position. The valve-stem 45 may then be completely hand operated by lmeans of the hand-wheel |24. In the event of a severe downward thrust of the valve-stem by reason of expansion in the carrier line, the piston of hydraulic cylinder i3 may be urged inwardly against the normal pressure therein until the pressure in the cylinder has been increased beyond a predetermined allowable of said gases being introduced in liquid form and vaporized within the apparatus by contact with said solids, which apparatus includes two confined contacting zones arranged in superimposed relation, each zone being adapted to retain therein a bed of said powdered solids for separate contact with one of said gases, and a carrier line for transferring said solids between said beds from the lower to the upper zone comprising a substantially vertical conduit disposed within said lower zone and having an inlet at its lower end in the lower portion of said bed in the lower zone and communicating at its upper end with said bed in the upper zone, a combined means for vaporizing said liquid for contact in gaseous form with said solids in said upper zone and for controlling the ow of solids from said lower to saidupper Vzone which includesz'a substantially vertical, longitudinally moveable, hollow-stem Valve entering said lower zone at the bottom thereof and having its forward end projecting into the inlet of said carrier lineV and having said hollow-stem in openV communication with the interior of said carrier line through an oriiice in said forward end; bearing means in the bottom of said lower Zone around said longitudinally moveable hollow-stem valve; shielding means enclosing said bearing and attached to the bottom of said lower zone and to said valve and adapted to telescope with longitudinal movement thereof; means for introducing a liquid into said conduit line through said hollow-stem valve and said orice in the forward end thereof; means for introducing aV sealing fluid within said telescoping shielding means; and external control means for longitudinally moving said valve to control the How of said powdered solids from said lower zone to said upper zone.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 1 in which the inlet of said carrier line and said moveable valve are located in a well in the bottom of said lower zone.

WILLIAM J. DEGNEN. W. BENEDICT JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 758,118 Sticker Apr. 26, 1904 998,111 Murray July 18, 1911 1,254,244 Leblanc Jan. 22, 1918 1,319,193 Von Porat Oct. 21, 1919 1,364,532 Von Porat Jan. 4, 1921 1,566,517 Bergman Dec. 22, 1925 2,433,726 Angell Dec. 30, 1947 

